Pavement Whispers: Volume 342 January 25
From news of a luxe lobster roll pop-up to a new grab-and-go coffee and sandwich spot in Annerley, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out …
Miss Milly’s Espresso
Residents of Annerley were crestfallen back in May 2021 when the team behind beloved Ipswich Road caffeinery Dudley Street Espresso closed its doors. Well, in good news for locals and Dudley Street regulars, word has emerged almost a year on that the crew behind the long-running cafe is returning to the strip with a brand-new venture called Miss Milly’s Espresso. Located just a hop, skip and a jump from Dudley Street, Miss Milly’s Espresso is taking shape in the space formerly home to Groove Cafe, which sits within the Annerley Arcade building amongst its collection of thrift stores and antique shops. The team is currently in the process of renovating the space, exchanging its dark interior for a fresher aesthetic boasting brighter colours and new timber counter tops. Miss Milly’s will operate largely as a grab-and-go cafe, though a small selection of seats inside and in the arcade will cater to patrons keen to sit down for a spell. The menu will feature a selection of freshly made sandwiches and toasties, served alongside cups of coffee from Genovese. Miss Milly’s Espresso is targeting a mid-February opening date – we’ll have more on this one when it opens!
Phat Greens
One of the biggest foodie stories of last week was the news that Amanda and John Scott of Farm House Cafe and Oh Boy, Bok Choy! fame were on the cusp of expanding their hospitality portfolio. Tomorrow, Wednesday January 26, the couple will open Phat Greens, a takeaway concept specialising in fresh Asian-inspired grab-and-go eats. The concept looks to ease the burden on the kitchen of neighbouring restaurant Oh Boy, Bok Choy!, with an offering that includes quick lunch bites and family-sized dinners. Expect the likes of rice and vermicelli noodle bowls boasting vegan-friendly protein available alongside the likes of kombucha-glazed barbecue pork and chilli and kaffir lime chicken, a range of nutritious salads, bao buns (a favourite on the Oh Boy, Bok Choy! menu), rice-paper rolls and Vietnamese banh mi. As for beverages, Phat Greens will dispense a small selection of iced teas, including butterfly pea, hibiscus and oolong varieties. Stay tuned for an up-close look at this one later in the week.
Bottomless brunch at Rita’s Tequila and Taqueria
When we think of bottomless brunches, our minds typically gravitate towards visions of endless mimosas, bellinis, croissants and delicately assembled portions of eggs Benedict. Well, the cheeky crew behind Teneriffe bar and taqueria Rita’s Tequila and Taqueria is putting its own riff on the weekend special with its soon-t0-launch weekly Sunday bottomless brunch offering. From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Sunday February 6, Rita’s will host its debut bottomless brunch, with two-hour sittings giving guests the opportunity to devour an endless procession of tacos and margarita jugs, Palomas and specialty cocktails. Four kinds of taco will be available on the day, with the selection changing weekly. For the first event, we’ve been told that the kitchen team is tinkering with options like chorizo tacos with whipped eggs, fetta and pickled jalapenos, crispy sweet potato tacos with black-garlic aioli and iceberg lettuce, and mushroom tacos with Vegemite cream and crispy onions. Sittings at Rita’s bottomless brunch are going for $65 per person – online bookings will launch later this week, though eager beavers can direct message Rita’s Instagram to register their interest now!
The Lobster Social
Crustacean-crazed readers may have already spied our post last week about Lobster & Co.’s pop-up dining experience, but those that missed it should take note now. The travelling pop-up concept will be parked at Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club from January 26–30, slinging its famous limited-edition lobster rolls (boasting wild-caught whole confit Australian lobster tail served warm in a caramelised brioche bun with creamy buttermilk fennel slaw), golden parmesan truffle fries and crisp glasses of G.H. Mumm champagne. Believe us when we say this is a must-try experience for lobster lovers. We’ve also heard word that Lobster & Co. will be capping off its summer tour with an appearance in Brisbane from February 11–27 – we can’t wait!
Rumpus Room announces closure
West End’s nightlife will lose a long-running fixture next month as Russell Street party spot Rumpus Room closes its doors for the last time on Saturday February 26. The team behind the venue announced on social media that Rumpus Room would close after “16 years full of beers, sweat and tunes”. While this is sad news for folks that have frequented the bar over its 16-year lifespan, the Rumpus crew is committed to going out with a bang, promising a series of parties at the venue every weekend up until its closure, culminating in a grand finale on Saturday February 26. Stay tuned to Rumpus Room’s Facebook page for updates on its final events.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].
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